Rob Steeley clocks up 25th year as Ferroli’s technical wizard

The talent and dedication of Ferroli’s chief technical officer Rob Steeley was celebrated by his colleagues on 7 February, when they marked his 25th year with the boiler manufacturer’s UK division.

Mr Steeley joined Ferroli in February 1989 as assistant service manager when Ferroli was still based in Minworth and operated as a joint venture with Brassware Sales. It was his uncle Mike Reade who, as Brassware Sales’ technical manager, suggested that he switch from his career as a quantity surveyor and join him in the boiler industry.

“Back then it was just me and Dave Brown taking all the service calls, dealing with all the parts coming in and out and overseeing all technical aspects of the company’s operation,” said Mr Steeley. “We honed our skills in the old-fashioned way – by taking the boilers apart to find out how they worked and how they could be improved and that’s still what I do today, along with all the necessary accreditation courses and gas competency qualifications of course.”

Mr Steeley continued: “It’s hard to believe, but the production costs of a boiler to the customer are the same now as they were in the late 1980s – around £500-£600. At Ferroli I’ve seen some very impressive developments such as the copper dual pass heat exchanger that we designed in 1988. This was the forerunner of the current stainless steel pipe-in-pipe heat exchanger that helps make the new Modena HE boiler such an exceptionally reliable product.”

On 7 February, Ferroli’s commercial director Andy Dimond thanked Mr Steeley for his invaluable contribution to the company and presented him with a framed letter of thanks from company owner Dante Ferroli, an engraved trophy and a track day of racing Ferraris and Lamborghinis.